2020 Bodegas Carrau Tannat, Uruguay

Bodegas Carrau is a family business with a long history. The Carrau family started making wine in Spain more than 265 years ago. They exported their wine from Barcelona to South America in the 18th century. The economic depression in the 1930s made Juan Carrau decide to settle in Montevideo, Uruguay. Juan Carrau, an oenologist by profession, immediately started planting vineyards upon arrival in Uruguay. He was the first to plant the grape varieties nebbiolo and tannat in the Las Violetas region, north of Montevideo.

Currently, Javier Carrau (9th generation) is at the helm of the company. The 10th generation has now also been working within the company for 10 years. Javier's son, Marcos, is a biologist and winemaker while Javier's daughter, Juliana, is responsible for administration and marketing.

Tannat, Uruguay's number one grape, often has a lot of tannins. In this wine, the tannins are already somewhat softer due to maturation in new French oak for 12 months. The wine is deep dark red in colour with notes of cedar and violets in the nose. The wine has a nice balance between the tannins, some spiciness and ripe fruit like plums and blackcurrants.

Flavour description

The deeply dark wine has an aroma that matches its appearance. The aroma gives blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, surrounded by cedar and honeysuckle. The wine is surprisingly juicy and possesses an uplifting character. The blackcurrant fruit is assisted by a twist of black pepper and a leaf of bay leaf. The tannins are mild and spicy, which provide a fresh final shot. A wine with a dark appearance that gives pleasure and play!

Application

The wine is so well executed that there is certainly no need to put it up first. It will quietly hold up for another year in the cellar. Except you don't have to wait for a wine that is already so balanced. Feel free to pour the wine at 15 degrees and enjoy all the game it has to offer. Preferably use a Bordeaux glass then the wine will get enough air in the glass and thus decanting immediately becomes unnecessary.

Wine and food

This is truly an exotic that knows how to understand the Dutch pot. From a stew, the Hachee to a stamppot with a roast sausage, this tank finds it all fine. But pulled porc or roasted meat also go great with this wine.

Contact

If you want more of this wine, contact The Monk Beverages

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